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F or Emma, the time seemed to race by. She reached under the tablecloth to reclaim Lord Orson’s hand. She did not know how she had come to depend so solely on the man, but he was proving to be her only reality.

“Give my regards to Cook,” Lord Duncan said as he placed his serviette on the table. “It is such a blessing to enjoy something other than clear broth. Are you in the mood for a game of chess, Orson?”

Richard glanced to Lady Emma. “Should we not include the ladies in our entertainments, my lord?”

Duncan’s eyebrow rose in challenge. “Then what say you to joining Theodora on the instrument? It has been longer than I care to name since you two shared the pianoforte. Would you not enjoy hearing them, Lady Emma?”

Emma quickly released Lord Orson’s hand, and she wondered if Lord Duncan had spoken to her specifically to reel in her boldness.

“Indeed, I would, my lord,” she responded.

“Let us remove to the music room,” Duncan ordered. To Mrs. Braylon, he said, “You may join the others below stairs. I shan’t require my medication for several more hours. I will send for you when I am prepared to retire.”

The nurse did not appear happy with Lord Duncan’s orders, but she followed his lordship’s instructions without comment.

Though Emma had no real point of reference, she had never heard of a nurse or any high servant, for that matter, dining with the master or mistress of the house, though for a matter of a heartbeat, she saw herself at such a table previously.

Likely, she had “stolen” a sweet or a favorite dish in her own kitchen.

Lord Duncan rose to escort Emma into the music room, while Lord Orson and Lady Theodora scurried to reach the instrument and to look through the music available in the pianoforte’s bench.

“This one,” Lady Theodora declared as she pulled out several pieces. Emma knew a bit of jealousy while watching Lord Orson and the young lady playfully tugging sheets from each other’s fingers. Had Emma ever held such a relationship with another man or woman? Sadly, she doubted she had.

“They are friends, for they were raised as siblings by my late wife,” Lord Duncan assured Emma in an aside.

“I did not...” she began, but the man patted the back of her hand to prevent her protest.

“I am glad you see Orson as someone you admire. He has turned out to be an honorable man—a man worth knowing. Assuredly, he is a much better man than was his late father. More importantly to you is the idea that his lordship cares for you, quite deeply.”

Emma continued to watch Orson and Lady Theodora. “And you are telling me this for a particular reason?”

“I do not wish our Richard to be disappointed,” Lord Duncan declared without hesitation.

“And I also do not wish him to know disappointment,” Emma said honestly, “but what if my memory never returns?”

“It will,” Lord Duncan assured her. “Quit fighting it.” He watched with pride as Richard and Theodora sat together and spread the music before them.

“One of your favorites, Father,” Lady Theodora said.

“Your mother’s favorite?” his lordship asked, and Emma watched as Lord Duncan’s expression changed to one of contentment and a bit of dreaminess.

“Your Elsbeth was a fine woman,” Lord Orson said as he set his fingers to the instrument, and he and Lady Theodora played a rousing Scottish reel.

Lord Duncan tapped out the tempo against the side of his leg.

At length, he leaned closer to Emma to say, “My Elsbeth was so full of life. Unfortunately, her light was snuffed out too soon. If you find a person you cherish, claim every second of happiness you are afforded, for none of us are guaranteed a lifetime with those we love. Just be confident love is part of the equation. A lifetime of boredom or of settling for something less than spectacular is not what God planned for a man or a woman.”

“How will I know love when it appears before me, as I have had few examples?” Emma asked quietly as she watched Lord Orson and Lady Theodora finish with a flourish.

Lord Duncan led Emma in a round of applause and begged for another tune.

When the pair began again, he said, “You will know. You will wish for that particular person’s happiness, even if it is not with you.

True love cannot be selfish. True love stories simply never end, even when one of the people is gone, like my Elsbeth.

Many think true love is fiery and passionate, but they have erred.

For love, real love, is wise and abiding and quite simple in its complexities. ”

Emma listened with her heart to both the music and Lord Duncan’s words of advice. At length, the gentleman spoke again, but not about her apparently poorly hidden growing feelings for Lord Orson. “We should speak of what to expect tonight.”

“Lord Orson explained how Lord Beaufort will come for me in the middle of the night,” she told him.

“Such is what is planned, but I wish to speak to the specifics,” Lord Duncan responded.

She nodded her agreement and set her mind to following his lordship’s instructions.

“When Lord Orson leaves this evening around ten or so, Theodora will accompany him. We are hoping to give Lord Davidson’s men and any others involved in this madness the impression you have departed my home on Orson’s arm. ”

“Any others?” she asked in confusion. “Are there others of whom I should be aware?”

Lord Duncan waited until the pair at the instrument began another piece before he responded.

“We are not completely confident,” he told her.

“Yet, I am worried someone either from your household or this one has sold information regarding your presence under my roof to Lord Davidson. It cannot be a coincidence that Davidson found you so quickly. Both Orson and my daughter have spoken their qualms regarding your butler’s response to your absence from the house.

A well-trained staff would have reported you missing from your quarters and your bed not slept in to your butler, who should have contacted the watch, but there have been no reports of your going missing.

It was only after Orson and Theodora asked for clothes for you that Lord Davidson’s man came calling upon my household.

It is also bothersome that the maid who brought you a nightgown did not return to this house from her half day yesterday evening, as she should have. ”

“I was not aware,” Emma said with a bit of shock.

“Such is just it, my lady. Though I am assured your memory will return as you gain more confidence, you must learn to trust your instincts, and you must pay attention to the smallest of details. Let nothing slip your notice.” Emma found herself sitting taller and more properly.

“When Theodora leaves with Orson this evening, I want your current quarters empty—to provide the appearance of your absence. I require you to move to Beaufort’s quarters, not Dora’s, for they are in a different wing of the house, and someone might see you there.

There are more servants and such in the family wing.

Moreover, Mrs. Braylon is there. Do you know which are Beaufort’s? ”

“Yes, sir.”

“You must be as quiet as possible. No lights in the window. The idea is to convince not only Davidson’s men, but also my household that you departed with Orson.

There are a few others, beyond the missing maid, who might be involved.

Until we know with certainty, we must not be caught unawares.

I would expect, if I am accurate, someone will look for you in your current quarters and deduce that the one with Orson is Theodora if you are there.

Such could put both you and my daughter in danger, and I cannot permit either to happen. ”

“How daunting it is to consider such,” Emma said in awe.

“Unfortunately, those involved in governmental investigations sometimes must be prepared to know disappointment. To trust someone and learn otherwise. I suspect you know something of what I speak,” Lord Duncan said as he caught Emma’s gaze.

“Mr. Rheem said something similar previously—that I cannot recall what happened to me because the attack came from someone I trusted.” She looked again to Lord Orson. “Is such a part of Lord Orson’s life? This need to question even the simplest of interactions?”

“Yes, and, if you choose to accept our Richard’s hand, you must be prepared to assist him in his position as a lord of England and as an agent for the British government.

No more protests. Find more accepted ways to speak to those issues which you find important.

Instead of chronicling what you view as the foibles of the lords enjoying their drinks and cards at their favorite gentleman’s club, find a means to circumvent their inaction.

My Elsbeth, for example, was passionate about the welfare of children, so she founded an orphanage that treats the children humanely and trains them for positions in society.

Channel your passion for the good of others.

” He paused to listen to the music before continuing.

“No more being alone in one of London’s questionable neighborhoods.

For your doing so would not only place you in more danger, but risk Richard’s life.

There are those who would use you to reach him, and he would risk it all, including his life, to save you.

That is not to say I do not think you would be good for Richard.

However, you must choose to use your willfulness and your daring to lift up Richard’s position in society.

See that the children you share know their parents and admire them. Be what neither of you have had.”